I was super excited when I heard that Jenny & Aaron from Everyday is A Holiday were writing a book. I’ve always been a huge fan of their their shop filled with vintage-bakery inspired goodies for your home. I mean, look at this giant die cut cupcake!  It was neat to follow along with them on their book-writing journey via their Facebook page,  and now that the book “Mixed Media Masterpieces with Jenny & Aaron: Create Incredible Art Journals and Handmade Mixed Media Treasures with Two Master Crafters” is out, we can all learn how to create some of their sweet, retro magic!They generously sent me a copy of their book to check out the projects and attempt to make my favorite. I picked the faux cake project, OBVIOUSLY!! While the project in the book has multiple layers and more stuff going on on it, I decided to stay simple with one layer and some doodads I already had in my house.  My decision to only make one layer was also heavily influenced by my desire to wear my cake on my head, as I do.

There are many other fun projects in the book, and you get to check out all the tools and knick-knacks that Jenny & Aaron use to create their signature style.

Would you like to win a copy of Mixed Media Masterpieces? Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget! Since we are running into the Christmas holiday, this giveaway will end at midnight PST on Friday, December 27th. Good luck!

I know you’re like, “It’s not even Christmas yet! Why are you posting a Valentine’s Day pattern?” Because the February issue of Crochet Today magazine is out today and includes a “Favorite Blogger” feature of me, plus a link to THIS free pattern!

Hello! Okay, I was first told that I would be in the issue of Crochet Today that dropped in December, but as it turns out, I’m in the February/March issue which dropped in January! Sorry for the mix-up! I have a feature in the magazine titled “My Crochet Life.” If you’ve come here from Crochet Today: hello, new readers!! Here is your free crochet pattern for the Conversation Heart Garland!

If you are familiar with working in the round, this pattern is pretty quick and easy, and you can make your garland as long or as short as you like, in whatever colors you like. Plus you can have lots of fun cutting out your own felt lettering for various messages!

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My buddy Mary from Acrylicana is now teaching online classes at Skillshare.com! Her first class just launched and it is: Fashion Illustration Basics: Poses, Form and Function. It normally costs $19.00, but Mary is offering TEN (10) of my readers 10% off using code TWINKIE, so use the code now before anyone else does!

Here’s the blurb about the class: Students will follow through from gestures to basic form, and are taught fashion illustration poses. The focus will be on three final poses and clothing designs in the final section and done in a retro style similar to those found on old sewing patterns.

Students are encouraged to take these basics and infuse their own style into the work, as well as be inspired by trends in fashion, vintage looks, or their own fashion ideas.

The videos will show digital media employed, but students can use whatever media they are most comfortable with (tablet and Photoshop, pencil and paper, etc).

Mary is super-talented, and I’m sure you will learn a lot!

Hi Gang!!!

It’s the 15th of the month, so it’s time to launch a new blog sponsor giveaway! Thanks so much to my generous sponsors for offering us these wonderful goodies! One lucky winner will receive:

1. A free one-year print subscription to Crochet Today Magazine! That’s six issues, each filled with more than 25 fun patterns! Learn more at crochettoday.com.

2. I’m super excited that you guys could win SNACKS for the first time, from Blippo.com, a super kawaii shop with all kinds of accessories, stationery, and candy! Prize includes Puccho Chewy Grape Candy, Puccho Chewy Mandarin Candy,  Lotte Dual Chocolate Wafers, Peko Sweets Candy Box, and Pocky Biscuit Sticks in Strawberry!

 3. A totally ridiculously way amazing package from Scrumptious Delight! I have bought plush from her A LOT. She is genius. The Scrumptious Delight prize is a selection of plush sweets. It consists of a cotton candy, a chocolate chip cookie, two marshmallow key chains a bag of five jelly beans and five post cards, all in plush, of course!

4. Super sweet panda brooch from Glamasaurus! The panda brooch is made with imported fabric that is set in a bronze setting with clear jewelers resin. It is accented with a cute resin bow and hanging from the setting are 2 glass beads and a shell heart.

5. A 20€ ($27) gift certificate to PetitsPixels. a shop filled with cute amigurumi and other fun accessories.

6. Super adorable hair clip by Dina Fragola! Cupcake charm, brass filigree, and cute flowers!

7. A free copy of Wizard of Oz Crochet, by my buddy Kristen Rask of Schmancy. This book/kit just came out about a month ago, and I contributed two patterns to it: a Lollipop Kid, and the Wizard himself! It comes with yarn and a crochet hook!

Just follow the Rafflecopter widget for all of your chances to win! (p.s If you are new to Rafflecopter and think it’s weird, I just ran into this hand dandy guide.)

Giveaway is open worldwide and will run for a week until next Sunday night, December 22nd, at midnight. Good luck! P.S. Please make sure my email address can get through your spam filters! twinkie@twinkiechan.com

Save some time next weekend to attend the greatest show on Earth: Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco! December 21-22, 11am-6pm. My booth is right up near the front of the Concourse Exhbition Center, and I’ll be bringing back my gingerbread house set-up!

If any of you are already on the Renegade mailing list, you have noticed this:

I’ll be creating a little extra sumthin sumthin for you to guys to take a picture with…… it’ll be a SURPRISE!